INNOVATIVE POWER OF DESIGN, CULTURAL CATALYST FOR PROGRESS

Under the enlightened patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and member of the Dubai Council, Dubai Design Week’s ninth edition unfolded with resplendent grandeur at the Dubai Design District (d3) from November 8th through 12th, 2023. Her Highness graciously inaugurated this remarkable event that aimed to foster creativity and innovation in design.

At the prestigious Downtown Design, an oasis of contemporary and high-quality design in the Middle Eastern design landscape, innovators and design aficionados converged to behold the latest evolutions in the global design sphere. Positioned as the epicenter for curated brand showcases, design firms, and emerging talents, Downtown Design not only captured the imagination of attendees but also forged a vibrant arena for exchanging expertise, forging partnerships, and initiating meaningful dialogue in design, all while unearthing the secrets of success from industry luminaries at enlightening talks and masterclasses.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed said: “Dubai Design Week stands as a beacon of creativity and innovation, representing Dubai’s dynamic evolution in steering innovation, creativity, and collaboration in the fast-growing design sector. Dubai Design Week is a celebration of the transformative potential of design and a significant platform for designers, visionaries, and thinkers. It plays a crucial role in stimulating the growth and development of the creative community in Dubai, solidifying the emirate’s status as the design hub of the Middle East. This year’s edition is no exception, featuring a diverse and inclusive lineup of artistic and educational events designed to inspire all those interested in the arts and culture. I look forward to Dubai Design Week’s ongoing contribution to ushering in a new era of design excellence not only in the UAE but also on a global scale.”

We aim to foster a dialogue around sustainability through engaging and thought provoking initiatives and focus attention on how different practices can converge to look at sustainability, which we see as pivotal for the future of the design industry!” shares Natasha Carella, Programming Director Dubai Design Week.Uniting the world’s foremost design pioneers, architects, and innovators, Repara, the premier design platform of the Middle East, created a vibrant melting pot of ideas that spanned from ancient customs to the future of technology. Dubai served as the stage for this grand affair, reaffirming the city’s pivotal role as a catalyst for progress and the embodiment of what can be accomplished through the power of design. Repara 2024 forged a unique space where creators from over 40 countries could collaborate, inspire, and initiate profound discussions that continue to shape the global design landscape.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed visited some of its key installations and exhibitions, including the 2023 Abwab commission titled ‘Of Palm.’ Abdalla Almulla, a trailblazing Emirati architect and the mastermind behind MULA design studio, crafted ‘Of Palm’ – an architectural marvel that pays homage to the versatile majesty of the date palm. Not just an architectural feat but a visionary exploration of the palm’s myriad potential uses, ‘Of Palm’ uncovers novel and unprecedented expressions of this natural resource, while dazzling onlookers with its intricate blend of art and engineering.

Beyond serving as a platform for innovation and collaboration, Dubai Design Week also played host to a plethora of invigorating talks and hands-on workshops that traversed the expanse of the design world, each offering an unparalleled opportunity for designers, architects, and creative practitioners from over 40 countries to delve deeper into the intricacies of their craft. The diversity of the event was further underscored by the vibrant Dubai Design Week Marketplace, which brought together more than 80 regional vendors, with Emirati artisans making up a noteworthy 21 of these vendors, exhibiting their wares and enriching the already rich cultural tapestry of the event.Dubai Design Week 2023 continued its trailblazing legacy as a platform for dynamic creative explorations that reconciled traditional practices with the ever-evolving realm of technology, thus paving the way for a more sustainable and socially-conscious design future. Stepping into the role of a cultural catalyst, the festival was an extraordinary showcase of groundbreaking installations, awe-inspiring artworks, and immersive experiences that boldly embraced the pressing theme of eco-friendly design, crafting meaningful narratives that resonated with diverse audiences across the region and beyond.

Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum graced ‘Designest’ – the Urban Commissions winner of Dubai Design Week – with her presence. The imposing ‘Designest’, designed by the talented Dubai-based Ahmad Kattan, drew inspiration from the iconic pigeon towers that once permeated the Arabian Peninsula. These cylindrical structures echoed the rich historical and cultural significance of the traditional towers while embracing the functional elements of protection and practicality. Her Highness’ visit to this masterpiece added an extra layer of prestige to an already magnificent structure.

Ahmad Alkattan’s ‘Designest’ is a stunning ode to both the past and present, seamlessly weaving the cultural significance of historic pigeon towers into a contemporary installation that fuses functionality and beauty. His masterpiece effortlessly blends the functional purpose of protecting humans and birds alike from the elements, while paying homage to the traditional Arabian practices of harnessing pigeon droppings for fertilizer, all the while embodying the awe-inspiring architectural beauty of arches and engravings that once symbolized wealth in this region.

The UAE experienced a momentous milestone as Urban Hives (UH) – a Lebanese-borne innovative concept by Nathalie Harb – found its footing, weaving itself seamlessly into the tapestry of Dubai Design Week 2023. In an impressive collaboration with BMW and guided by the nurturing hand of the Dubai Institute of Design and Innovation (DIDI), Nathalie Harb’s visionary undertaking to create community gardens on once desolate urban surfaces through the implementation of a cleverly designed modular structure was brought to life, unlocking the many environmental, social, and cultural benefits of this holistic approach to sustainable city planning.

Lebanon’s vibrant design scene came alive in full force at Dubai Design Week, with a constellation of Lebanese designers showcasing their works. Amongst this talented cohort was George Geara, whose ‘Echelle’ chair caught the eye of design enthusiasts with its elegant handcrafted frame, echoing the form of a ladder and crowned with a luscious velvet seat. The marriage of traditional craftsmanship and modern materials coalesced in this striking chair, exemplifying Lebanon’s diverse and ever-evolving design landscape.

In a dazzling demonstration of Lebanese craftsmanship and ingenuity, Ahmad Bazazo, through his Studio Bazazo, unveiled the ‘Mistral’ coffee table to an awestruck audience at Dubai Design Week 2023. Hand-carved with unrivaled skill from solid Travertino Rosso, sourced from Italy, this minimalist design piece stood as a testament to the timeless beauty of Lebanon’s craftsmanship. Exuding a subtle, yet captivating allure, the ‘Mistral’ coffee table radiates an understated glamour that gives a room a sense of serene sophistication.

Emerging from the dexterous hands of AlZaina Lootah and Sahil Rattha Singh, ‘Naseej’ wove Emirati traditions, sustainability, and architectural brilliance into a tapestry of sheer craftsmanship. Inspired by palm fronds, this wooden pavilion beckoned visitors to enter its tranquil realm, offering them a space for inner reflection and meditation, while embracing the essence of nature through the presence of organic materials.

Downtown Design 2023 delivered a splash of nautical inspiration, riding the waves of Veuve Clicquot’s ‘Cellar in the Sea’ project. In homage to the miraculous survival of 47 Veuve Clicquot bottles, entombed for nearly 200 years within a 19th-century shipwreck and recovered intact from the Baltic Sea’s depths, Downtown Design’s main lounge was transformed into a stunning reinterpretation of the legendary shipwreck.

Vanessa Barragão, a Portuguese designer renowned for her unique blend of sustainable practices and stunning aesthetics, crafted 3D textile wall murals for the Double J Collective, drawing inspiration from the colorful coral reefs of Dubai’s resplendent Ras Ghanadah. Created entirely from sheep’s wool, sourced from discarded materials, these natural fibers were hand-dyed and woven into vibrant organic shapes that echoed the shape, color, and texture of marine life.

Lighting up the Dubai Design Week with an illumination that defied the limits of space and time, the Italian lighting studio Slamp teamed up with the iconic Zaha Hadid Studio to launch Aria Infinita. This majestic, two-metre-high suspension light sculpted in fluidic, sinuous waves achieved a masterful symbiosis of handcrafted Lentiflex® layers and a light source that evoked a mesmerizing, ever-evolving glow as onlookers explored different angles, celebrating Slamp’s tenth anniversary in an explosion of creative brilliance.

The ARIA INFINITA, Slamp’s latest luminary masterwork, is a literal and metaphorical exploration of light and form, building upon the foundations laid by ARIA and AVIA, its predecessors. To create this majestic display, meticulous craftsmanship was undertaken as layers of hand-formed 3mm-thick sheets were tailor-stitched around a luminous core.

A playful amalgamation of Dutch history and futuristic whimsy, Atelier Ruben van Megen’s Snotneus table lamp for Dutch Collective offers a charmingly eccentric take on the traditional Dutch oil lamp. The space-age design, which evokes retro-futuristic visions of galactic exploration, echoes through van Megen’s Oyster Lamps, which appear to capture a bisected planet whose glowing core beckons curious onlookers. The secret of these wondrous lamps lies in their unique construction, built from a material made of compressed sand that draws inspiration from the designer’s Sandcastle series.

Esteemed Italian brand Cassina graced the Middle Eastern design landscape, unveiling the captivating “Cassina Perspective” at the 10th edition of Downtown Design 2023. Taking the spotlight, Cassina showcased a trove of original and homegrown collectible design pieces from the region’s most promising designers and artisans, highlighting the diverse, rich creativity of the Middle East and South Asia.

Since the 1950s, Cassina has been at the helm of the Italian design industry, pioneering the shift from artisanal to industrial production, seamlessly fusing technology with centuries-old craftsmanship. Its trailblazing approach saw it introduce modernist icons such as Le Corbusier’s armchairs to a wider audience. This pioneering spirit was born from Cassina’s unwavering commitment to research and innovation, consistently elevating its furniture creations with cutting-edge technology whilst simultaneously honouring the rich tradition of artisanal craftsmanship that defines its roots.

Downtown Design is owned and managed by the Art Dubai Group, staged in strategic partnership with Dubai Design District (d3), a member of TECOM Group PJSC, and supported by Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). The next edition will take place on 6 – 9 November 2024.

Between 5 and 10 November 2024, Dubai will yet again fling open its gates to welcome the world’s most gifted creative minds for a spectacular edition of Dubai Design Week. With over 500 designers and brands from more than 40 countries descending upon the city, this dynamic hub of creativity, innovation, and talent will shine a spotlight on the regional design landscape, further cementing Dubai’s reputation as a global bastion of contemporary design.